PTI
File photo of former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday issued orders for attachment of assets worth Rs.742.58 crore held by former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kaveri Kalanithi, in the Aircel-Maxis deal case.
The attachment has been carried out as part of the ongoing ED probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, based on the Central Bureau of Investigation findings that the former Telecom Minister had allegedly received illegal gratification of Rs.742.58 crore.
The Directorate has attached immovable assets worth Rs.266 crore owned by Sun Direct TV Private Limited (SDTPL); property worth Rs.171.55 crore owned by Kal Comm Private Limited; SDTPL shares worth Rs.139 crore held by Kalanithi Maran; and Rs.100 crore in fixed deposit besides Rs.2.78 crore in mutual fund investments by him.
The ED has also attached investments to the tune of Rs.3.08 crore by Kalanithi Maran's wife Kaveri Kalanithi; Rs.7.47 crore in fixed deposits belonging to Mr. Dayanidhi Maran; SDTPL fixed deposits of Rs.31.34 crore; South Asia FM Limited (SAFL) fixed deposits of Rs.6.19 crore; and mutual funds worth Rs.15.14 crore held by SAFL.
The CBI had in October 2011 registered the case alleging that Aircel owner C. Sivasankaran, who had applied for spectrum licence, was coerced into selling his company to Maxis Group. The agency alleged that Maxis, which bought 74 per cent stakes in Aircel in March 2006, invested Rs.742 crore in Sun Direct TV Private Limited (SDTPL) between 2007 and 2009.
Last August, the CBI filed a charge sheet against the Maran brothers and others, including four companies, accusing them of criminal conspiracy and corruption.
According to the ED, Rs.742.58 crore was paid by Mauritius-based companies to SDTPL and SAFL, allegedly for Mr. Dayanidhi Maran. The alleged beneficiary companies are owned and controlled by Kalanithi Maran.
While probing the shareholding patterns, the ED found that Kalanithi Maran and his wife held 80 per cent of SDTPL shares. According to the agency, Kalanithi Maran and his wife also held 90 per cent and 10 per cent shares, respectively, in Kal Comm Private Limited. A.H. Multisoft Private Limited and South Asia Multimedia Technologies Limited, Mauritius, held 20 per cent shares each in SAFL.
The Aircel-Maxis deal came under the scanner after Aircel owner C. Sivasankaran lodged a complaint with the CBI in April-May 2011 alleging that he was forced to sell his stakes to Maxis.
In May 2014, the CBI had told the Supreme Court that there was a difference of opinion between the then CBI Director and the prosecution regarding filing of the charge sheet. However, on reference, the then Attorney General opined that there was enough prosecutable evidence.
Subsequently, Maxis Communications Berhad (Malaysia), also an accused in the CBI case, had urged Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that it be treated in a fair manner, citing a contrary opinion by two retired Chief Justices of India.
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